Congress workers cane charged while attempting to gherao CM residence

Bhopal: Over a dozen Congressmen workers were injured when police resorted to cane charge to thwart an attempt by party's thousands of workers to gherao residence of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan defying the prohibitory order on Thursday.

Chouhan is away in US tour. One of the injured was admitted to a hospital due to serious injuries. Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industries Jyotiraditya Scindia, PCC president Kanti Lal Bhuria, leader of opposition Ajay Singh and former assembly Speaker Shrinivas Tiwari were among senior leaders who joined the protest.

Bhuria and Singh courted arrest along with nearly one lakh party workers, claimed the Congress. The protest was to highlight alleged corruption, deteriorating law and order, atrocities against women, malnutrition and illegal favour to mining companies among other issues in the state.

Congress workers drawn from all parts of the state marched towards the CM house ignoring pleas of police officials to disperse. When the march did not stop, police resorted to lathi charge. The police also lobbed tear gas shells and used water cannons to disrupt the Congress workers' movements towards the CM house.

Slamming the police action, Ajay Singh said they unleashed violence on peacefully demonstrating Congress workers. He pledged to continue the protest against police atrocities in every district headquarters in the state.

Congress general secretary in-charge of Madhya Pradesh B K Hariprasad and Jyotiraditya Scindia in their address urged party workers to be prepared to fight for ousting the corrupt BJP government from the state. The also asked them to shun intra-party differences and work in unison to ensure victory of the Congress in the coming assembly elections in the state next year.

The Congress had earlier announced to hold protest on September 20. However, it was called off following visit of foreign dignitaries to attend the foundation laying ceremony of international Buddhist University in Sanchi.